Hi y'all,
It is officially summer! I used to take summer for granted but now, as a Seattlite, I cherish it. We wait all year for these moments, am I right?
This past weekend, I was in the North Cascades hosting a retreat called Every Body Outside. The premise for the retreat was just that - that every body deserves to enjoy the outdoors. We stayed on site at the North Cascades Institute. Their mission statement is as follows:
“North Cascades Institute envisions healthy Northwest ecosystems where all communities and species thrive. Our mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. Since 1986, we have helped connect people, nature and community through the hands-on study of the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest.”
I highly recommend checking out their website to learn about the programming they offer. Everyone on staff is welcoming and I can attest to how beautiful the accommodations are and how tasty the food is! More here.
Nineteen mostly strangers gathered at the beautiful North Cascades Institute for a weekend of trail running, hiking, water play, art and relaxation.
My superpower is building community and making people feel at ease, and it was beautiful to see that happen yet again on this retreat. Over the past four years, I’ve been taking groups on retreats (twice to Alaska, once to climb Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and this year the North Cascades) and am always amazed to witness strangers let their guard down and become vulnerable enough to make lasting friendships.
At the end of the retreat, we decided that next year we would meet up in Montana. So stay tuned for more on that if this sounds like your kind of thing. You can see a short recap of the retreat on my Instagram here.
Behind the Scenes
This retreat will also be featured in episode 1 of season 5 of Out & Back! This means that my team at Cascade PBS joined me to learn more about the why and how of the retreat and follow along for the weekend. This episode won’t air until early 2027 so here are some sneak peaks of the process.
Recap: We Out Here Trail Fest
Last weekend, I hosted the second annual We Out Here Trail Fest (it’s been a busy month). Over 50% of participants were first-time trail runners and it was an inclusive event in every way — gender, race, age, body size, you name it. Enjoy a few photos of the joy, all courtesy of David Jaewon Oh. Registration for next year’s We Out Here Trail Fest is now open for a limited time, so grab your spot now at the lowest pricing through July 1st HERE.
Get Outdoors: Upcoming events
- Samish Island Nature and Adventure Camp Retreat – July 9-13 in Bow, Washington. This intergenerational sleepover camp is BIPOC-led and BIPOC-centered and aims to create a space where the intersection of culture and nature is celebrated. You can register here.
- PNW Family Funday: Fit Melanin Summer – July 11 at Pier 58. This wellness- and movement-focused event features free fitness classes, BIPOC vendors, art activities, field games and family fun, live performances, free water and snacks, community resources and music. You can register here.
- All-City Mile – July 18 at Shoreline Stadium. Join CSRD and Athletic Form at the UW Husky Track for a community-driven celebration of running. The All-City Mile brings together people of all ages and abilities, united by the love of movement. The event aims to break the fear of the track and reclaim the mile as a symbol of fun, challenge and togetherness. There will be multiple heats throughout the entire morning for any pace, as well as a kids’ dash and a mystery closing track event. Official registration is here.
That’s all for this edition. As always, would love to hear from you! Don’t be a stranger.
See you outside,
Alison
